This was taken from the beta forums, it's a compilation of stuff Yoshi-P has said about PvP, and a lot of it was stuff I hadn't heard. Figured anyone who might want to do PvP in ARR might be interested:

Quote:

Quotes from Yoshida:

"For A Realm Reborn‘s PvP we plan to implement two elements: the Coliseum for “casual” PvP matches and the Frontline for large-scale PvP battles. Frontline will feature epic battles among the three city-states and would be similar to a Realm vs. Realm which you can look forward to."

" we are designing it so that players that do not wish to take part in PvP are not forced to. The battle framework we are currently working on takes into account future PVP contents. We are planning two approaches to PvP. The first are battles in the Coliseum where you can have a fair duel against an opponent. The second is a PvP area where you can fight for control of various influences with several players."

" We are planning to have it so you can view the camera of the players PvPing, but we’re just barely progressing with this, so we will be looking into this as a feature to be released in the future"

" as far as PvP goes, opposing players will take fall damage during a match."

" First off, let me introduce a few of the rewards players can obtain through PvP. This PvP exclusive equipment has been modeled after animals"

"A geographic anomaly near Limsa Lominsa was shown very briefly in the “A New Beginning” trailer, the inside of which has been converted into an arena. Players will register for PvP battles inside the ship out front. The first PvP arena we plan to introduce will include pillars, stairs and other obstacles that players can exploit when engaging their opponents."

"After registration, players will be matched up automatically against other players based on their PvP ranking. It will be very casual, so hopefully everyone at least tries it out!"

"I'm not planning to allow PK in the Coliseum. Please consider similar to a sports match where the teams hold a sports-like competition. However, with the other one that takes place in the PvP area, players may be attacked by others at any moment as long as they are in that area. So as long as you don't enter that area, you will be safe."

" We’ve actually expanded the battle team just recently. And there are quite a lot of them that have played PVP games with me. We’ve put a lot of work into the system, including the core design"

" What we've decided to do is create two separate sets of skills for that players will have the freedom to interchange depending on whether they’re playing PvE or PvP. These PvP actions will be obtained through participation in PVP"

" I'm not sure how knowledgeable most people are about PvP, especially in the JP community, but the coliseum that we're planning to implement at launch is something like...a gathering place for the world's strongest warriors. When a PvP battle starts, you'll see four players from the opposing team on the other side. Once the signal is given, the battle starts. Now, if I was a black mage, I'd obviously focus on casting magic from a far while trying to keep my distance, since I'd be slaughtered in close combat. I might also hide behind pillars or other obstructions while attacking to prevent others from targeting me.

Of course, I'm sure opposing warriors and paladins would attack me first because of my low defense, so I would probably try to cast sleep or repose to take them out of the fight for a short while. Depending on your role and the situation, you'll want to fight with a different style. And, as I mentioned in the previous live letter, you can use the environment to your advantage. These matches will be balanced around 4 vs. 4. Hopefully everyone can try it out and go from there.

That's the general idea behind PvP. Of course, there will be situations where melee characters try to ensnare casters, or think of ways to prevent the opposing player from running away with sprint. Oh, and you'll be able to restore TP by using potions. I could go on and on about it. Anyway, you’ll receive points when you win a match.

And when you gain a certain amount of points, your PvP rank will go up. As you gain ranks in PVP, you'll receive a different type of points. These particular points can be used to obtain weapon skills, for example. PvP players can create certain builds by using these points. These points can also be used to purchase the PvP gear I introduced last time.

So essentially, your goal would be to gain points through matches to obtain PVP skills, passive abilities, and gear to grow stronger. You can even buy—well, I might get yelled at by the Battle team for saying this but...

For example, you'll be able to purchase this one paladin PVP ability, and its effect changes depending on what grand company you've joined."

Update 27/4/2013 "The PvP Coliseum will be added during phase 4 of the beta, but all PvP points earned will be reset at release to be fair to those not participating to the beta test."

Update 13/6/2013

UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION on front line, we are planning to implement it on patch 2.2 or 2.3 we’re talking which one it’s going to be on, it has higher probability of it being on 2.3 but once you go in, depending on your grand company the starting point changes so, you’re going to take over forts against other players. there are parts where crafters also comes to play. the frontline zones will be open for PVP 24hrs

I just hate the rank up get abilities that make you better than everyone. The problem is when you have a group that rank up really fast and then you get me who plays every now and then, who's not bad but doesn't have the gained skills yet and gets murdered. For example a level 50 PvP vs. a level 14 PvP, clearly that sucks.

I compare it to CoD. These kids play that game for HOURS and have the best stats, I roll in there just to kill someone and get owned by someone who has Ninja-reload, 1000000x bullet spray speed, and level 25 and below automatic killer bullets. It's not fun after 20min because you keep getting killed by someone, not with more skill, but because they have a better ability.

I like the format where you pick your stats at the start but ANYONE and EVERYONE has access to the same one. Someone might pick something different based on how they play, or in this case character, but there is no "unfair" advantage. I guess you can't have a level 50 and a level 25 have the same skills but I won't enjoy myself if I can't rank up even a little faster because some 40+ player keeps zerging my level 15... That's why I stopped playing FPS, because they give "play time" an unfair advantage.

Socom 1, 2, 3*, Counter Strike, MAG, had it right (Have it right) Not to compare my FFXIV to a FPS but the way we will be pared and the differential in skills is comparable and is of equal concern to me.

Can anyone lay my mind at ease? I really want to do PvP but I won't do it exclusively which makes me thing I will be at a disadvantage to someone who has 10-20hrs a week just for PvP. Is that a valid reason or am I looking at it wrong?

*Socom 3/CA worste games, EVER, but the skill progression was the same as S1 and 2. S4 and the other were rank up to unlock. which is my argument, against. Yuck!

im pretty sure everyone gets there abilitys when they start.. and i think its only lvl 50 pvp. gear.. im nto to sure i think it will ahve a gear system kinda like wow did. but we have yet to see any pvp gear scetches so who knows.

I just hate the rank up get abilities that make you better than everyone. The problem is when you have a group that rank up really fast and then you get me who plays every now and then, who's not bad but doesn't have the gained skills yet and gets murdered. For example a level 50 PvP vs. a level 14 PvP, clearly that sucks.

I think that's why he mentioned that people would be given ranks, and you'd go up against people with a similar rank. That way, you are facing people with similar abilities and gear as your own. I like that idea.

"I'm not planning to allow PK in the Coliseum." + "However, with the other one that takes place in the PvP area, players may be attacked by others at any moment as long as they are in that area." = Huh?

btw will there be ANYTIME pvp areas or will the epvp areas only exist when the realm vs realm like battles are happening?

I mean it would be nice to have a few quests or even FATES that take place in a few PvP areas to make things more interesting.

I mean in one game we had a quest in a pvp area that required you to simple go to the area and get from point a to point B.... not hard at all.. except since it was a pvp area I was on edge the entire time as I ran through it scared that someone was gonna jump out in me at any moment. But although I was "scared" I was excited at teh notion that I might have to defend myself against a player at any second if I wanted to complete the quest (luckily nothing ever happened when I went in so it was a breeze). But my heart was pounding teh whole time lol.

"I'm not planning to allow PK in the Coliseum." + "However, with the other one that takes place in the PvP area, players may be attacked by others at any moment as long as they are in that area." = Huh?

The Coliseum is for one-on-one PvP. If you're there to spectate or are waiting to challenge someone, you won't have to worry about getting randomly ganked because fights are voluntary.

But if you enter the clearly marked PvP battlefield and ignore all warnings, all bets are off. There are no safeguards against fighting other players in there and you could get slain at any time. If you don't want to be PKed, don't go in there.

There was some structured pvp in FFXI, it wasn't all that great but I did like participating in it occasionally. Usually it was the same group of people for the day going to the different locations. I hope you can watch the matches in the coliseum and maybe even take bets on the winner. Just don't let them try a fast one and throw the fight on you.

The large scale siege pvp reminds me if we will see large events similar to FATES in the game where city states will be ransacked and need defending similar to what you saw in FFXI. Events like those were always fun if not a little difficult.

PvP in its own area I am all for. While not a huge fan of pvp, I do like to do it every once in awhile. But no open world pvp. Hate that so much. Thanfully that doesnt look it was even considered, which I am glad for.